We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Thursday, September 5. 2013

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I'm adding this after the fact, since Dr. Mercury made a comment which is germaine, but not wholly correct and I feel the need to address. While the commentator mentions a "racial epithet", the entire video, if you have the chance to view it, begins with the antagonist saying " married to an Arab." He then calls Weiner disgusting and a scumbag, which are epithets, but not racial. The first comment is not an epithet, even if it was used in a derogatory fashion, but sensibilities on issues like this vary. For the record, when I saw this on TV in the morning, I was laughing at the whole thing, as was Charlie Rose. Weiner is a public figure, and his wife is too, and they are open to any criticism which comes their way and have to accept that as part of their choice of profession. Sometimes it's ugly and uncomfortable, but even when it is, Weiner's reaction was over the top and damages an already heavily damaged public persona. As a public figure, voters do get to judge him in whatever way they choose.

What's Weiner eating? I could say it's a "wiener" but it's actually crow.

"You're my judge?" Hey, Anthony, he's a voter. When he steps into the voting booth to make his choice, you're damned right he's your judge. In New York, has insulting voters become the way you win a campaign? What a putz. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

I saw the 'racial epithet'. All the guy said is "You're married to an Arab." Hardly confrontational, and hardly surprising in that part of NYC.

As a public persona, and in certain very special moments as a Twitter persona, Weiner has to understand he's open to any kind of scrutiny, which is really all this guy employed.

I don't care that Weiner is married to an Arab, and neither to most NY voters (I am not one) or people paying attention to the election because it affects them (it affects me since I use city infrastructure regularly). So his demeanor is very important, particularly given his peccadilloes and inability to accept defeat.

And speaking of epithets, perhaps the term "asshole Jew" should best be limited to "asshole", because anybody could have said what he said, the fact a Jew said it doesn't make one whit of difference.

Weiner has a host of problems, and one of them is managing his emotions. A good politician would've had walked away and simply smiled.

I can understand the asshole's frustration (and yes, that guy is an asshole for picking a fight with a down and out loser like Weiner), because Weiner and Spitzer are both giving NYC a worse name than it already has.

I love Spitzer's ads these days about how he's "fighting for women." Yeah, and beating the crap out of them, too, according to your old madam.

But at least Spitzer is smart enough to keep his trap shut and stick to campaigning. Weiner just liked digging bigger holes for himself.

What is wrong with you? There is nothing on the audio track of the confrontation between these two people that is racist or offensive in content. All I know about this dustup is what I saw and heard on the linked video clip. The relevant part of the sound track begins, apparently, after the alleged "slur" was made, so if there was anything like a slur, I did not hear it. And if Wiener's antagonist said something about his being "married to an Arab," I did not hear that either. I did not notice anything of the sort when I first played the clip and, after playing it twice more, I still do not hear anything resembling those words. So don't get on your damned high horse and accuse me of excusing someone's bad behavior. Man up, I think an apology is in order.

I don't delete anything. Discourse is what it is. If I was wrong, I'd have deleted the post. As it is, I added perspective, and that's a good thing.

My view of media is if you disagree, as Doc did, that's fine. But if I'm actually wrong (assuming a real epithet or threat of some kind was made), then I should own up and admit error.

We need balance in media, not self-censorship or single-minded reporting.

Doc's half-right. Wiener was provoked, and if I had the whole video I'd have linked it. I didn't, and since I'd seen the whole thing I didn't think it was important. But context is everything. I feel comfortable with my original post, and the addendum.

Wiener is still an ass, so was his antagonist, but Weiner had an opportunity to prove he was mature and instead created a media storm. Typical for the attention whore he is.

In case it wasn't clear, Bulldog, this comment of mine was directed at Doc, not you.

Regarding Wiener's being provoked, I agree with feeblemind that Weiner lacks self-control, and as we can see it's apparently true in more ways than one. Apropos of what he told his antagonist, if anyone should have a conversation with his rabbi, it's Wiener. I'd take it as a given, however, that introspection is not one of his strong points because, as he boasted to the crowd and his entourage when leaving the shop (shown in the full video), he "never backs down." Too much testosterone + a blast of sugar from sweet pastries makes Anthony Weiner act like a total jerk.

I have no problem with the voter confronting Weiner. If the candidate can't take negative feedback he shouldn't be running for office. I don't understand why you are taking Weiner's side because he is 'down and out". As long as he is running for office I don't see him as down and out. He should be man enough to take the criticism. Obviously he is not.

The larger issue is that it once again showcases Weiner's anger management issues, lack of self-control, and his aggressive, combative nature.

Elections are about character and this exchange vividly illustrates his once again.

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